Singapore sees 22% jump in moderate or severe trauma injury cases from 2021 to 2023

Key Concepts

• Trauma injuries (moderate to severe)
• Falls (leading cause of injury)
• Road accidents (vehicular accidents, motorcyclists, pedestrians, cyclists)
• Workplace injuries (tools, objects, industrial accidents)
• Drowning (children, private pools)
• National injury prevention conference
• National road map for injury prevention
• Data-driven interventions
• Stakeholder collaboration
• Safety awareness and precautions
• Prevention vs. cure
• Chain of survival

Increase in Trauma Injuries

• There's been an increase in moderate to severe trauma injuries leading to hospitalizations.
• In 2021, 148 out of 100,000 people were injured; this rose to 166 in 2023.
• A national road map is being developed to address common causes of injuries.
• The National University Hospital (NUH) and KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) jointly launched the first national injury prevention conference.

National Injury Prevention Conference

• Aims to drive potential law changes and address common causes of trauma injuries, such as road safety.
• Brings together government partners like the Health and Manpower Ministries and the Road Safety Council.
• Focuses on sharing knowledge, best practices, and fostering partnerships to prevent injuries.
• Seeks to improve safety in pediatric, workplace, and road safety areas.
• "This conference brings together various stakeholders to better understand trauma Trends and to reduce the incidence of trauma injuries ultimately we seek to improve safety in areas of pediatric workplace and road safety"
• The conference serves as an annual iterative platform for stakeholders to share data and focus interventions.

National Trauma Registry Data

• About one in five persons with severe trauma injuries die.
• Data is collated from nine public hospitals across Singapore.
• Approximately eight out of 100,000 people are treated for trauma injuries daily at public healthcare institutions.
• Injuries range from minor sprains to severe amputations.

Leading Causes of Trauma Injuries

Adults

• Falls, especially at home, are the leading cause of moderate to severe injuries.
• Vehicular accidents are another major cause.
• Motorcyclists make up nearly half of vehicular accident cases.
• Those working with tools and objects also contribute to the injury statistics.

Children

• Falls at home are the most common cause of moderate to severe injuries.
• Falls also occur at school.
• Road injuries involve cyclists, pedestrians, and passengers.
• Around one in ten children are injured from drowning, with over half occurring in private pools.

Case Study: Magnetic Beads

• A four-year-old girl, Na Marty Vanda, swallowed over 60 magnetic beads from a puzzle.
• The beads stuck together in her intestine, creating a potentially lethal bowel twist.
• She underwent emergency stomach surgery at NUH to remove the beads.
• The family learned a valuable lesson about safety and the importance of keeping dangerous toys out of reach.

Expert Perspectives

Adjunct Assistant Professor Raj Menan (NUH)

• Sees a high number of industrial accidents due to NUH's proximity to industrial areas.
• Road traffic collisions are also a significant cause of trauma.
• The type of patients getting injured is changing, with more frail and elderly individuals involved.
• Believes that increased safety awareness and precautions are crucial to prevent falls and workplace accidents.
• Emphasizes the importance of calling 995 and not transporting injured patients in personal vehicles.
• Advocates for teaching workers and supervisors how to manage injuries as they occur.
• Stresses the need for education and enforcement in road safety.
• "When people Rush when people try to achieve more more that they can do in a short period of time that's when accidents happen and when people reduce their safeguards this is really the perfect recipe for accidents to happen"

Clinical Assistant Professor Ronald Tan (KKH)

• Sees trauma cases daily in the pediatric emergency department, including drowning, falls from heights, and road traffic accidents.
• Emphasizes that these cases are often highly preventable.
• Recommends installing window grills in high-rise flats to prevent falls.
• Highlights the importance of strength training and grip bars at home to prevent falls in the elderly.
• Stresses the importance of forging a common consensus among stakeholders on meaningful ways to engage and continue the dialogue both within and beyond healthcare.
• "Prevention is always better than cure so let's have have that safety mindset and you know really just work together towards a safer Singapore"

Prevention Strategies

• Falls: Install window grills, strength training for the elderly, grip bars at home.
• Road Safety: Wear seat belts (front and rear), avoid speeding, education, enforcement.
• Workplace: Safety awareness, precautions, proper evacuation procedures, training on injury management.
• Drowning: Supervision around pools, water safety education.

National Road Map

• Aims to create a comprehensive national framework for injury prevention.
• Involves collaboration between Ministries, statutory boards, and public hospitals.
• Focuses on data-driven interventions.
• Emphasizes a "whole of government, whole of society" approach.

Conclusion

The increase in trauma injuries in Singapore necessitates a multi-faceted approach involving data collection, stakeholder collaboration, targeted interventions, and increased public awareness. The national injury prevention conference and the development of a national road map are crucial steps towards reducing the incidence of preventable injuries and improving safety across various settings. Individual responsibility and a proactive safety mindset are also essential components of a safer Singapore.